Wolf Pack adds tight ends coach

The Nevada Wolf Pack athletic department announced Friday that Cheston Blackshear has been hired to coach the Wolf Pack’s tight ends.

Blackshear, a former Florida Gator offensive lineman, comes to Nevada from Georgetown. He also coached three seasons in the Mountain West at New Mexico.

“His time working at New Mexico gives him insight into our league and he brings with him an outstanding reputation as a recruiter," Wolf Pack head coach Brian Polian said. "His experience as a decorated player in the SEC for the University of Florida will also serve as a valuable asset in terms of relating to our players."

Blackshear played at Florida from 1996-99, starting 28 games and playing in four bowls. Blackshear grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was all-state and a SuperPrep All-American at Ed White High.

His coaching experience includes coaching running backs at Sandalwood High in Jacksonville as well as a graduate assistant at Florida (2002-04) and Illinois (2005). He coached tight ends and offensive line at Columbia (2006-08) before moving on to New Mexico in 2009.

Blackshear fills the spot left by James Spady, who was named last week as the head coach at Alabama A&M.

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Joe Santoro is an award-winning sportswriter with over three decades of experience. Joe is the dean of Northern Nevada sports reporters and has covered University of Nevada Wolf Pack sports as a beat reporter and columnist for more than two decades. His "Friday Fodder" column is the longest-running sports column in northern Nevada and one of the most widely read and acclaimed columns in the state of Nevada. A former sports editor at four different newspapers, Joe has covered everything from numerous World Series and Super Bowls to the Summer Olympics and Pan American Games as well as Division I universities in six states. Please contact Joe at chicagoreno@sbcglobal.net.